Frank de Boer content with Ajax start after win over Roda

The 43-year-old watched his side emerge comfortable winners from their Eredivisie opener, but says there remains much room for improvement in the months ahead

Frank de Boer said he was content after watching his Ajax side run out 3-0 winners over Roda in their first game of the new season.

Ricardo van Rhijn and Siem de Jong put the hosts 2-0 up at half-time, thanks to two fine assists from Christian Eriksen, while Viktor Fischer added a third late on, as last year’s champions got their title defence off to a winning start.

“We have two points more than last year,” De Boer told Fox Sports, referring to their 2-2 draw with AZ Alkmaar on the first day of last season.

“In the first half I was most pleased.

“But we also had a stage where we were inferior. You always have that in a game, but we need to recognise it and play simpler than before.”

Roda were awarded a penalty in the second half but Wiljan Pluim failed to convert from the spot as Ajax were handed a break in a game they had dominated for the entirety of the first half and De Boer admitted he was concerned at how his side would respond.

He added: “You heard my voice, I coached a lot. I tried to hold the players focus.”